Although a loyal fan of menswear-inspired looks I find that while a man looks effortless and cool in a suit I look contrived and uncomfortable. So rather than committing to the full suit, what about menswear-inspired details? And if the weather today is any tell of what February is going to look like I imagine these masculine details will lend themselves well to the upcoming fashion week that send editors trekking from Lincoln Center all the way over to the Brooklyn Navy Yards (thanks Wang) in possible inches of snow.
I turn toward the fall 2014 menswear shows for inspiration on how exactly to get in touch with my masculine side — all sans suit and even sans brogues.
Mixed Media
From Saint Laurent to Lanvin men walked the runways sporting mixed prints, patterns and materials. A leopard sports coat thrown over a zebra print shirt competed with polka dots paired with pinstripes for boldest mash ups. Menswear in general seems to be taking a turn toward patterns with almost every show featuring a torrent of checks and stripes. Patterns covered everything from shoes to jean jackets.
Womanize it: Try mixing prints of a similar color for a fresh tonal look that isn’t too overwhelming.
Slouchy Trousers
A complete 360 from the stovepipe pants of menswear past, many designers sent their models down in relaxed-fit (pleated even!) pants. Though less tailored than their slim fitting counterparts the slouchy trouser requires impeccable cutting. The seemingly casual and comfortable look can quickly transition to formal wear with the addition of a short cut jacket and dress shirt. Marc Jacobs showed us slouchy suits while Givenchy opted for sportswear-inspired variations reminiscent of basketball warm-up pants.
Womanize it: Try oversized boyfriend jeans with a polished blouse and heels or go for slouchy, silky pajama inspired bottoms paired with a cashmere sweater and a leather bomber.
Oversized Sweaters
The oversized crew neck sweater has become a staple for menswear silhouettes, having long surpassed the v-neck, having been embraced by the minimalists in classic cable knits as well as the more forward designers who reinterpreted them with sweatshirt inspired details and graphic prints. The hemlines went north for most all of them giving the classic shape a fresh new feel. Dolce and Gabbana gave their sweaters a medieval makeover that beg the question of Game of Thrones’ scope of influence and Valentino kept it classic with cozy fair isle prints.
Womanize it: Try dressing a chunky knit sweater up by pairing it with a sequin mini skirt or dress it down with leather leggings and your favorite kicks.
Fur Trimmings
This trend steered away from full-on-fur and rather used fur to create accent points and details on other pieces. Lanvin used a panel of pony hair to create the illusion of punk-inspired spikes across the shoulder of a jacket. Fendi accented sweaters, hats and jackets with fur toying with the duality between the wild and the tame, the natural and the urban. And Givenchy saw fur used as stoles and as collars on jackets.
Womanize it: Try throwing a fur stole over the collar of a sportier jacket or add a shearling front cardigan to your go-to t-shirt and jeans combo.